On Tuesday the new NFL year begins when teams will officially be able to sign free agents. The free agency signing period is usually an exciting time for Detroit Lions fans as they wait and wish for the next bgi name free agent to come to Ford Field. This year is a bit of a reversal as the biggest name in free agency the season is likely headed out of town.
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The nano-second the Detroit Lions annoucned they would not use the franchise tag on Ndamukong Suh teams started lining up to woo the all-pro defensive tackle. Some are looking to build around Suh while others view him as the final peice to a championship puzzle.
Here is a look at some of the top sutiors for Ndamukong Suh in free agency. (in no particular order)
Miami Dolphins – Cap Space – $10,511,279
The Phins think they are the front runner for Ndamukong Suh’s services next season. Reports have srufaced in the Miami Herald and NFL insiders that affirm the Dolphins supreme confidence in landing the free agent all-pro.
Via Miami Herald’s Armando Salguero
"The Dolphins will be calling agent Jimmy Sexton to discuss their interest in signing the Detroit Lions defensive tackle who is hitting free agency. The Dolphins will definitely be in the Suh chase, according to multiple sources.(Most team sources have dried up on this topic. But the walls have ears at the Davie facility).I’m told the Dolphins are confident they’re going to put a great offer on the table for Suh. They are confident they can get him. They are not certain because, obviously, this is a still a competition."
The problem for the Dolphins is their limited cap space. Suh will pull down an estimated $17 million a season. Miami will have to get creative to fit Suh under this years cap.
Oakland Raiders – Cap Space – $67,114,585
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The Raiders have some serious money to spend this offseason and they consider Suh a player who can change the course of recent franchise history.
The Raiders have been known to break the bank on veteran players who they think have the talent to help them win immediately. Ndmaukong Suh would be treated like a king in Oakland and that could be appealing for a player with a eye toward life after football.
Jacksonville Jaguars – Cap Space $68,908,777
Jacksonville may not seem like a preferred destination for a player looking to brand himself but it may be the most lucrative destination for Ndamukong Suh. Owner Shahid Khan is an international billionare who could offer some interesting incentives in the form of equity for a player of Ndamukong Suh’s ilk.
Will those incentives out-weigh playing in the football wasteland Jacksonville has become? Only time will tell.
Detroit Lions – Cap Space $18,257,846
Predominantly Orange
Just because they didn’t slap the franchise tag on him doesn’t mean the Lions aren’t interested in retaining Ndamukong Suh. The issue for the Lions is weighing the short term gain of signing Suh vs. long term cap management.
Read Related Post: No Ndamukong Suh? No Ndamukong Problem
Suh had one of the best years of his career under defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. The overall upside of the club combined with a chance to return to the playoffs give the Lions as good a chance at re-signing Suh as the other have of wrestling him away.
San Diego Chargers – Cap Space $30, 535,106
The latest team rumored to be in on Ndamukong Suh has enough cap space to sign him and a big need to fill on the interior of their defensive line.
Intriguing team preparing to make a run at #Lions DT Ndamukong Suh: The #Chargers. Wow.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 7, 2015
Although San Diego is a short drive from the largest market on the west coast they don’t get as much exposure as some of the large market teams. The question here is whether Suh thinks San Diego can provide the combination of competitiveness and marketability he is rumored to covet.